Richard Vanden Brink Jr.

1949 - 2023

Mystic - We are saddened to announce the passing of Richard Vanden Brink Jr. at Pendleton Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Mystic, June 8, 2023. He was born May 4, 1949, to Richard Vanden Brink Sr. and Elizabeth Mary (Stachulak) Vanden Brink.

Richard was a typical child. He graduated from St. Willibrord Catholic School, and went on to graduate from Thornton Township High School with high honors in auto shop. He joined the U.S. Navy in June 1969, and served until June 1975, in the Submarine Service, stationed on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln SSBN 602 as a MM3 (SS) E-4. He met his wife Marie Ellen while he was stationed at the U.S. Submarine Base in Groton/New London, Jan 19, 1972. Richard Jr. and Marie were married Jan. 19, 1974, at St. Philip the Apostle Church in Warrenville (Ashford), by the bride's uncle, the Rev. Norbert E. Belliveau. After being honorably discharged in 1975, he returned to his trade as a master auto technician in Chicago, Ill., as owner of Rich's Tune Up Center. In 1989, he moved back to Norwich, with his wife, Marie, to help take care of her mother.

He was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2010. He fought a good long fight through all his cancer diagnosis and treatments. In 2012, he retired as shop foreman at Mallon Chevrolet dealership in Norwich.

Survivors include his wife, Marie Ellen Vanden Brink of 49 years; sister Frances Mancilla; brother Mark R. Vanden Brink; nieces, Tracie Lee (Tobin) Viehweg, Tara Elizabeth Viehweg, Jungels (Nathan), Kendall Leigh Swann and Sydney Elizabeth Swann; nephews, Michael H. Swann and Zachary Viehweg; brothers-in-law, Edward L. Oloff Jr., Leonard F. Oloff (Karen/Leah), and Norbert E. Oloff (Alison); sisters-in-law, Eileen M. Quinn (Richard Jr.) and Judi Gillis-Oloff (Michael) predeceased him; nieces, Lori (Oloff) Bettencourt (Brian), Charlotte C. (Oloff) McLevy (Alan) and Tara Marie Quinn; nephews, Edward L. Oloff III, Mark E. Oloff (Stephanie), John Gillis Sr., Richard G. Quinn III and John Gillis Jr.

He was a loving brother, husband and friend to all who knew him.

"Richard, you are gone from the Earth, but your spirit lives in our hearts . . . sadly and lovingly missed by all who knew you.

We want to thank all the staff of Pendleton Rehabilitation and Nursing Center who did exceptional care for him. We are so grateful he was able to be a resident there.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, June 19, at St. Mary Mother of the Redeemer Church, 69 Groton Long Point Road, Groton. Burial will immediately follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Boswell Avenue, Norwich. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011.